The Carolina Mudcats outhit the Salem Red Sox, 8-7, Wednesday, but still took a loss, 5-1. The Mudcats were led by Luigi Rodriguez who had two hits, including a double, and scored the team's only run. Adum Plutko gave up just two hits in five innings, but took the loss on two runs with three walks allowed.

The Carolina Mudcats couldn’t have hoped for a better start to the second half, as they won three of their first four games. However, the team dropped two straight to end the week to bring their record to 3-3 in the second half and 32-41 overall. The IBI's Zachary Francis recaps the week for the Mudcats and also catches up with pitching prospect Josh Martin...

The Carolina Mudcats again fell to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans after allowing six runs across the fourth and seventh innings. Even though Carolina managed 11 hits, compared to seven for Myrtle Beach, the team still couldn't put a run on the board. Starter Cole Sulser struck out seven in six innings but still took his seventh loss of the season.

As we are at the unofficial halfway point of the minor league season with the Single-A second half underway, short season ball having started and the Double-A and Triple-A All Star games looming, now is a good time to focus in on the Indians prospects who have really improved their stock to the industry not just with their performance but more importantly their development this season. The IBI's Tony Lastoria has talked to lots of Indians personnel and scouts from other teams and in those conversations came up with seven players who have really jumped up in value this season.

While the Carolina Mudcats managed to force extra innings, 10 hits proved too few as they lost to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, 6-4, after giving up to runs in the top of the 10th. Four different Mudcats totaled two hits while Luigi Rodriguez tallied a home run and a triple. Carolina starter Michael Peoples pitched four innings, but D.J. Brown got the loss after 5.2 innings in relief.

Behind an offensive explosion from Yandy Diaz and a dominating start from Ryan Merritt (7-2, 1.61), the Carolina Mudcats cruised to a 6-1 win over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Sunday. Diaz went 2-for-4 with four RBI’s, including three on his key seventh inning double that sealed the victory for Carolina.

The WAR Room is back again, bringing you the 2014 advanced stats for every Cleveland minor leaguer. After looking at the pitchers last week, today we focus on the hitters, in particular Jesus Aguilar and Jose Ramirez pushing to make it back to the majors. Though limited roster spots in Cleveland (and injury in the case of Ramirez) may keep the pair in Triple-A, neither is being held back by their performance. Join Jim Piascik as he breaks down the hitters throughout the system and takes you into The WAR Room.

When it comes to prospects, sometimes the divide between one who makes it and one who does not just comes down to health. Roberto Perez and LeVon Washington are both examples of this, as they are both in the midst of big years after injury-riddled 2013 seasons. Now that both are healthy, Perez and Washington are raking, as they did Saturday. Join Arthur Kinney as he writes about Perez and his future, Washington and his potential rise, and much more as he takes you Around the Farm.

The Carolina Mudcats and Shawn Morimando had everything working on their way to a 12-2 demolition of the Frederick Keys at Five County Stadium. Starter Shawn Morimando (7-2, 3.12) earned the win after pitching 6.0 innings in which he allowed only two earned runs off of six hits.

The Carolina Mudcats blew a pair of late-inning leads Friday as they fell to the Frederick Keys 8-6 in ten innings. The Mudcats held a three-run lead going into the eighth and a two-run advantage to begin the ninth, but Carolina’s bullpen just could not close the door blowing two separate save opportunities.

After a two week hiatus because of the insane amount of time spent on the draft there past two weeks here at the IBI, the Happenings are back! In today’s report, the IBI's Tony Lastoria takes a look at the season that outfielder Tyler Naquin has had and the significant adjustment he has made which has led to a major improvement in an area of greatest weakness. He also looks at the sensational season that lefty Luis Lugo is having, provides tons of comments from Ross Atkins and Ted Kubiak on several players and roster issues - including some absolutely glowing comments on catcher Francisco Mejia - and provides an update on Jose Ramirez, Bryson Myles, Adam Miller, Giovanny Urshela and much more.

The night after only the Akron RubberDucks were in action, the Cleveland system had seven games going on thanks to the combination of two doubleheaders and the end of the All-Star break for Carolina and Lake County. Two RubberDucks still headlined the night, however, with Will Roberts putting together his best start of the season and Francisco Lindor showing off some power. Join Jim Piascik as he breaks down the busy night in the system and takes you Around the Farm.

Most nights when a team gives up 11 hits and 10 runs, it doesn't come out with the win. That wasn't the case Thursday as the Carolina Mudcats responded to early offense from the Frederick Keys to pile on 17 hits and 11 runs in the win. Joe Sever tallied four base knocks and Yandy Diaz and Todd Hankins added three each to pace the offense.

The Carolina Mudcats closed out the first half of the season on a sour note, going only 1-3 on the week, with one game being canceled by rain. The Mudcats enter the All-Star Break at 29-38 and finished the first half in a tie for third with the Winston Salem Dash. The IBI's Zachary Francis gets us caught up on the week that was for the Mudcats and

It’s been awhile since we last posted a Hot List. Such is the way things work once the draft season kicks in. The IBI's Tony Lastoria takes a look at all of the good and some not so good performances in the Indians minor league system so far in June and provides insight and information into the struggles for Cody Anderson, the hot hitting Tyler Naquin and Carlos Moncrief, the hot pitching of Luis Lugo and Ryan Merritt, and much more.

The Carolina Mudcats ended the first half of the season in losing fashion Sunday as they fell to the Wilmington Blue Rocks 3-2. Carolina’s bullpen struggles continued as the Blue Rocks rallied for three runs in the bottom of the eighth to steal the finale of the four-game set.

The WAR Room is back again, bringing you the 2014 advanced stats for every Cleveland minor leaguer. After looking at the hitters last week, today we focus on the pitchers. It is still early enough that there is some noise in the numbers, but at this point in the season, we are starting to see some interesting trends emerge. Join Jim Piascik as he breaks it all down, including Carolina left-hander Ryan Merritt continuing to dominate at the High-A level, Lake County left-hander Luis Lugo's slightly hidden greatness, and much more.

A brilliant performance from starter Shawn Morimando wasn't enough as the Carolina Mudcats fell 5-1 to the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Saturday night. After taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth, the Mudcats bullpen allowed six consecutive Blue Rock scores, which, ultimately, proved to be too much to overcome.

The Carolina Mudcats and Wilmington Blue Rocks split a doubleheader Friday after rain postponed the series’ opening game originally scheduled for Thursday. Wilmington shutout the Mudcats 6-0 in game one, but Carolina was able to salvage a split after an extra frame squeaking out a 4-3 win in game two.

As a difficult first half draws to a close, the Carolina Mudcats will not quit fighting to the very end. The Mudcats took three of five from the Winston Salem Dash in a home-and-home series before heading back to Zebulon to take on the Potomac Nationals, from whom they split the first two games of a series to improve to 4-3 on the week. The IBI's Zachary Francis recaps the week that was and features righty D.J. Brown...

Available IBI Books

The 2014 Cleveland Indians Baseball Insider book featuring the Indians' Top 100 Prospects and more is now available. Also, previous editions from 2008-2012 are also available at a discounted rate. Just click on the book image for more information. Thanks again for all the support!